Follow Me.....

Thoughts from Philippians 3.17 and an incredible weekend at Emmanuel.

I am not sure if its legal to suggest that Paul was crazy when he wrote Philippians 3.17. Maybe he wasn't crazy, just incredibly bold and intensely passionate. He actually thinks that we will fall madly in love with Christ... Crack open our chest and allows others to watch as the deepest parts of who we are resonate with His glory, His name and His renown.... that we will run after God, removing all obstacles to the knowledge of Him..... and when we discover truths about God, we actually acclimate those truths to our lives. Okay, here's the crazy part. Then, we might have such clarity of focus and passion that we look at others and humbly... oh so humbly say, I think my life and what I am about is a pattern to be about the things of God. I think that my life pattern will actually guide you to Christ. Follow me.... Follow me in my passion... Follow me as I seek to understand and wrestle with His truth... Follow me as I am so stinkin honest.. I don't have it all nailed... I don't know it all, yet.... But, I know that I have found this amazing relationship... Follow me and I think the trail of my life, time, treasure, commitments, resources, energy... that trail will lead you to someone HUGE! I am small... I don't want to be the next big thing.... I am NOT the next big thing. But, I know Him... He is THE BIG THING!

I had no idea how to wrap my mind around Paul's challenge in Philippians 3.17. Follow other's patterns as they follow Christ. Then, I shared with you guys about this little woman, who traveled nowhere, and in the eyes of this world was a nobody... no big job... no power... no stature....no big plaudits.... no visible accomplishments. She kept a garden, loved God, loved her church, loved her family. She thought that when people were hungry, you fed them. She thought it was important to share this passion and love of Christ with her family. She watched her son lead churches for over 60 years now. She led her son-in-law into a relationship with Christ and then watched him impact the world. She left an indelible imprint on this earth for the glory. This quiet, loving, woman, My gran is amazing. She patterned the Christ-life, then, like Paul, she left me with the same challenge.... to pattern my life so that people really are not sure who I am, but they are crystal clear who God is. I am small, God is huge! So, grannie joined the 'cloud of people who are cheering us on' a year or so ago. She is well... doing well.... glorified.... standing immersed in the light of Christ.... and longing for me - for us - to run this race well. Life counts! Live well!! Know Christ.... Follow Him... The Kingdom of God is near.

Who has left a pattern for you? Who has lived out the Christ-life in such a beautiful way that you are following their pattern. Click on comments below and add to the commentary.

There is far more to life for us --Phil 3.20 Live well..... Live with Passion... Live for the glory.

Mark